While Denver Hosts Coldest Playoff Game, Heat Records Outscore Cold Records 50-3

The Denver Broncos may have lost their coldest NFL playoff game yesterday (go Ravens!), but the real record-breaking temperatures were observed east of the Mississippi on January 12. At least 50 major National Weather Service locations in 14 states set new record high temperature records, listed in the table below. By contrast, only 3 comparable low temperature records were set, in California and Oregon, and all with periods of record under 45 years.

	Location	Record	Previous	Date	Period of Record
AL	MONTGOMERY AP ASOS	80	76	1/12/1950	65
AL	ANNISTON ARPT ASOS	75	73	1/12/1972	69
AL	MUSCLE SHOALS AP	73	70	1/12/1995	72
AL	HUNTSVILLE INTL AP	72	70	1/12/1960	54
FL	TAMPA INTL AP	83	82	1/12/1989	80
FL	CRESTVIEW BOB SIKES AP	78	77	1/12/1950	47
GA	ALMA BACON CO AP	81	79	1/12/1950	64
GA	SAVANNAH INTL AP	81	79	1/12/1949	68
GA	AUGUSTA BUSH FLD AP	81	76	1/12/2000	68
GA	MACON MIDDLE GA AP	78	75	1/12/1949	68
GA	COLUMBUS METO AP.	77	75	1/12/1950	65
GA	ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AP	76	71	1/12/1995	83
KY	BOWLING GREEN RGNL AP	70	69	1/12/1898	120
MI	JACKSON COUNTY AP	61	58	1/12/1995	64
MI	FLINT FCWOS	60	58	1/12/2005	64
MI	DETROIT METRO AIRPORT	59	58	1/12/1995	58
MI	GERALD R FORD INTL AP	57	55	1/12/2005	74
MI	ALPENA CO RGNL AP	57	49	1/12/2005	95
MI	TRAVERSE CITY FAA AP	55	50	1/12/2006	116
MI	HOUGHTON ROSCOMMON AP	52	47	1/12/2005	48
MI	PELLSTON RGNL AP	52	45	1/12/2005	65
MI	SAULT STE MARIE SNDRSN	47	43	1/12/1932	82
MS	TUPELO RGNL AP	76	71	1/12/2000	49
NC	WILMINGTON INTL AP	78	73	1/12/2006	80
NC	NEW BERN - ASOS	76	74	1/12/2006	64
NC	CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP	73	72	1/12/2005	68
NC	ASHEVILLE AP	70	66	1/12/2000	65
NY	ROCHESTER INTL AP	58	57	1/12/1995	87
NY	WATERTOWN AP	53	52	1/12/1995	63
OH	COLUMBUS WSO AP	66	64	1/12/2005	65
PA	BRADFORD FAA AP	53	50	1/12/2006	55
SC	COLUMBIA METRO AP	82	74	1/12/2005	67
SC	FLORENCE RGNL AP	81	73	1/12/1995	65
SC	CHARLESTON INTL. AIRPORT	81	78	1/12/1949	83
SC	NORTH MYRTLE BEACH	77	75	1/12/1992	46
SC	GRNVL SPART INTL AP	73	70	1/12/2000	50
TN	KNOXVILLE AP	75	71	1/12/1916	103
TN	JACKSON MCKELLAR- SIPES AP	73	72	1/12/1995	64
TN	MEMPHIS INTL AP	73	72	1/12/2005	73
TN	CHATTANOOGA AP	72	70	1/12/1928	85
TN	BRISTOL AP	71	69	1/12/2005	65
TN	CROSSVILLE AP	67	64	1/12/1960	58
VA	ROANOKE INTL AP	73	71	1/12/2005	65
VA	LYNCHBURG INTL AP	70	69	1/12/2005	83
VA	DANVILLE REGIONAL AP	70	68	1/12/2005	51
WV	BLUEFIELD MERCER CO AP	72	68	1/12/2005	53
WV	CHARLESTON YEAGER AP	72	71	1/12/2005	64
WV	BECKLEY RALEIGH COUNTY AP	70	67	1/12/2005	49
WV	MORGANTOWN HART FLD	68	66	1/12/2005	67
WV	PARKERSBURG FAA AP	68	67	1/12/2005	64

Inauguration Weather 2013 Update

	Temperature		Precipitation
Jan. 20	High	Low	Liquid	Snow
2009	30	19	0	0
2010	44	35	0.03	T
2011	44	35	T	T
2012	40	28	0.05	0.5
Jan. 21
2009	34	18	0	0
2010	44	31	0.08	T
2011	39	20	0.01	0.1
2012	34	28	0.23	0.6

Approaching the midpoint of meteorological winter, there have been only 5 days so far with temperatures cooler than average in Washington. As the 2013 inauguration approaches, however, it's likely that colder temperatures will prevail.

The latest extended outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 20-26 (click to enlarge) shows a 40% or higher probability of colder than average temperatures for the Mid Atlantic area. Precipitation chances, however, are rated at 40% or higher to be drier than average.

The table above shows that the trend to cooler temperatures has been common at this point in the winter in recent years, as temperatures have tended to be near or below normal on January 20 and 21. The warmest maximum temperature on each of the 2 days for the 4 years beginning with the last inauguration in 2009 was 44°, just 1° above the long-term average. In each of the last 3 years, there has been at least a trace of precipitation. Some of this fell as snow on each occasion, although the largest amount was 0.6" on January 21 last year.

For a more detailed review of the previous inauguration's weather see:
Inauguration Day Weather, 2009

For a temperature and precipitation climatology of inaugurations prior to 2009 see:
Inauguration Temperature Climatology
and
Political Climate: Inauguration Weather

U.S. Record Warmest Year Confirmed by Unprecedented Margin

Midnight Update: The standard deviation of the U.S. annual average temperatures is 0.92, so the new record exceeds the old one by over 1 standard deviation. It's also more than 3.4 standard deviations from the average. According to a public domain table of the normal distribution, the odds of this are 0.0003369. If the distribution were truly random (hint, it ain't), this would be a once in 2968 year event.

Original Post:
The National Climatic Data Center's preliminary report, released within the last hour, confirms that 2012 was the record warmest year for the U.S. by an incredible margin of 1.0°F. All 48 contiguous states were warmer than average for the year, 19 had record warm years, and 26 more had top 10 warmest years. At least 356 individual locations tied or broke their all-time record high temperatures. This included at least one location in every state except Washington.

The NCDC chart of year-to-date temperatures (click to enlarge) to the right shows that the extremely warm January and March put 2012 firmly in first place for warmest year and the wide margin was maintained through December.

The chart of warmest 12-month periods shows that 10 of the top 12 ended in 2012.

From the NCDC report:

In 2012, the contiguous United States (CONUS) average annual temperature of 55.3°F was 3.3°F above the 20th century average, and was the warmest year in the 1895-2012 period of record for the nation. The 2012 annual temperature was 1.0°F warmer than the previous record warm year of 1998. Since 1895, the CONUS has observed a long-term temperature increase of about 0.13°F per decade.

On a statewide and seasonal level, 2012 was a year of both temperature and precipitation extremes for the United States. Each state in the CONUS had annual temperatures which were above average. Nineteen states, stretching from Utah to Massachusetts, had annual temperatures which were record warm. An additional 26 states had one of their 10 warmest years. Only Georgia (11th warmest year), Oregon (12th warmest), and Washington (30th warmest) had annual temperatures that were not among the ten warmest in their respective period of records.

The preliminary list of individual all-time records from NCDC:

Date     Location                           Record  Previous/date
25-May   CHILLY BARTON FLAT, ID             100°F   100°F (Jul 24, 2007)
23-Jun   LAMAR MUNI AP, CO                  110°F   109°F (Aug 1, 2008)
23-Jun   COLORADO SPGS MUNI AP, CO          100°F   100°F (Jul 24, 2003)
23-Jun   DENVER CENTENNIAL AP, CO           100°F   100°F (Aug 1, 2008)
23-Jun   RUXTON PARK, CO                    87°F    86°F (Oct 1, 2006)
24-Jun   TRIBUNE 1W, KS                     109°F   108°F (Jul 15, 2000)
24-Jun   HARRISBURG 12WNW, NE               105°F   105°F (Jul 16, 2006)
24-Jun   JUNEAU DWTN, AK                    87°F    87°F (Jun 21, 1991)
25-Jun   NORTON DAM, KS                     113°F   111°F (Jul 7, 1991)
25-Jun   COLBY 1SW, KS                      112°F   110°F (Jun 25, 1971)
25-Jun   TRIBUNE 1W, KS                     111°F   109°F (1 day prior)
25-Jun   OAKLEY 4W, KS                      111°F   111°F (Jul 11, 1954)
25-Jun   SIDNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NE       109°F   107°F (Jul 16, 2006)
25-Jun   DENVER INTL AP, CO                 105°F   105°F (Jul 20, 2005)
25-Jun   KARVAL, CO                         103°F   103°F (Jul 24, 2005)
25-Jun   DENVER CENTENNIAL AP, CO           100°F   100°F (2 days prior)
26-Jun   MC COOK, NE                        115°F   114°F (Jul 20, 1932)
26-Jun   LAMAR MUNI AP, CO                  111°F   110°F (2 days prior)
26-Jun   SIDNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NE       111°F   109°F (1 day prior)
26-Jun   CEDAR BLUFF DAM, KS                110°F   110°F (Jul 15, 2003)
26-Jun   DODGE CITY RGNL AP, KS             110°F   110°F (Jun 26, 2011)
26-Jun   JUNCTION FAA AP, TX                108°F   108°F (Aug 28, 2011)
26-Jun   DENVER INTL AP, CO                 105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
26-Jun   WHEAT RIDGE 2, CO                  103°F   103°F (Jul 1, 1990)
26-Jun   COLORADO SPGS MUNI AP, CO          101°F   100°F (2 days prior)
26-Jun   EVERGREEN, CO                      97°F    96°F (Jul 9, 2003)
27-Jun   BENKELMAN, NE                      114°F   114°F (Jul 11, 1954)
27-Jun   LAMAR MUNI AP, CO                  112°F   111°F (1 day prior)
27-Jun   BREWSTER 4W, KS                    112°F   112°F (Jul 21, 2005)
27-Jun   SMITH CTR, KS                      112°F   112°F (Jul 5, 1964)
27-Jun   DODGE CITY RGNL AP, KS             111°F   110°F (1 day prior)
27-Jun   YUMA, CO                           111°F   109°F (Aug 3, 2008)
27-Jun   LAMAR, CO                          111°F   111°F (Jul 14, 1934)
27-Jun   TRENTON DAM, NE                    111°F   111°F (Aug 4, 1954)
27-Jun   TRIBUNE 1W, KS                     111°F   111°F (2 days prior)
27-Jun   HOLYOKE, CO                        110°F   110°F (Jul 11, 1954)
27-Jun   SEDGWICK 5 S, CO                   110°F   110°F (Jul 16, 2006)
27-Jun   GARDEN CITY EXP STA, KS            109°F   109°F (Jun 30, 2011)
27-Jun   EDGEMONT, SD                       108°F   107°F (Jul 16, 2006)
27-Jun   AKRON 4 E, CO                      107°F   107°F (Jul 9, 1989)
27-Jun   PUEBLO RSVR, CO                    107°F   107°F (Jul 21, 2005)
27-Jun   HARRISBURG 12WNW, NE               105°F   105°F (3 days prior)
27-Jun   KARVAL, CO                         104°F   103°F (2 days prior)
28-Jun   NORTON DAM, KS                     118°F   113°F (3 days prior)
28-Jun   COLBY 1SW, KS                      113°F   112°F (3 days prior)
28-Jun   SMITH CTR, KS                      113°F   112°F (1 day prior)
28-Jun   GARDEN CITY EXP STA, KS            112°F   109°F (1 day prior)
28-Jun   WALLACE, KS                        112°F   112°F (Jul 20, 1917)
28-Jun   JOHN MARTIN DAM, CO                111°F   111°F (Aug 4, 2008)
28-Jun   LAMAR, CO                          111°F   111°F (1 day prior)
28-Jun   OAKLEY 4W, KS                      111°F   111°F (3 days prior)
28-Jun   TRIBUNE 1W, KS                     111°F   111°F (1 day prior)
28-Jun   LA JUNTA 20 S, CO                  109°F   109°F (Jun 27, 1994)
28-Jun   CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP, IL            107°F   106°F (Sep 5, 1990)
28-Jun   EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AP, IN         107°F   105°F (Jul 14, 1954)
28-Jun   CARBONDALE SOUTHERN IL AP, IL      106°F   105°F (Jul 22, 1983)
28-Jun   MUNCIE BALL STATE UNIV, IN         106°F   102°F (Jun 26, 1988)
28-Jun   FORT WAYNE AP, IN                  106°F   106°F (Jun 25, 1988)
28-Jun   RICHMOND WTR WKS, IN               104°F   100°F (Sep 3, 2011)
28-Jun   INDIANAPOLIS INTL AP, IN           104°F   104°F (Jul 14, 1954)
28-Jun   BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP, IN       103°F   102°F (Jul 31, 1999)
28-Jun   DAYTON WSO AP, OH                  102°F   102°F (Aug 17, 1988)
28-Jun   PONTIAC OAKLAND CO INTL AP, MI     99°F    98°F (Jul 21, 2011)
29-Jun   COLUMBIA UNIV OF SC, SC            113°F   109°F (Aug 11, 2007)
29-Jun   FESTUS, MO                         111°F   110°F (Jul 16, 1980)
29-Jun   RICHFIELD, KS                      111°F   111°F (Jun 27, 2011)
29-Jun   PERRYVILLE WTP, MO                 110°F   109°F (Aug 3, 1964)
29-Jun   CEDAR BLUFF DAM, KS                110°F   110°F (3 days prior)
29-Jun   ATHENS BEN EPPS AP, GA             109°F   107°F (Aug 21, 1983)
29-Jun   COLUMBIA METRO AP, SC              109°F   107°F (Aug 10, 2007)
29-Jun   NASHVILLE ASOS, TN                 109°F   107°F (Jul 28, 1952)
29-Jun   DORA 1N, MO                        109°F   109°F (Jul 6, 1966)
29-Jun   KASKASKIA RVR NAV LOCK, IL         109°F   109°F (Aug 17, 1988)
29-Jun   PADUCAH BARKLEY AP, KY             108°F   106°F (Jul 28, 1952)
29-Jun   TERRE HAUTE INDIANA ST, IN         108°F   104°F (Sep 6, 1954)
29-Jun   CAPE GIRARDEAU FAA AP, MO          107°F   105°F (Jul 15, 1980)
29-Jun   CARBONDALE SOUTHERN IL AP, IL      107°F   106°F (1 day prior)
29-Jun   FAYETTEVILLE WTP, TN               107°F   105°F (Aug 23, 2007)
29-Jun   NEW CASTLE 3 SW, IN                107°F   103°F (Jun 26, 1988)
29-Jun   PROVIDENCE, KY                     107°F   106°F (Aug 17, 2007)
29-Jun   VINCENNES 5 NE, IN                 107°F   104°F (Jun 26, 1988)
29-Jun   BANKHEAD LOCK & DAM, AL            107°F   107°F (Jul 8, 1977)
29-Jun   EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AP, IN         107°F   107°F (1 day prior)
29-Jun   MUSCLE SHOALS AP, AL               107°F   107°F (Aug 15, 2007)
29-Jun   CHEATHAM   , TN                    106°F   105°F (Aug 23, 1983)
29-Jun   HUNTINGTON, IN                     106°F   105°F (Jun 26, 1988)
29-Jun   HUNTSVILLE INTL AP, AL             106°F   105°F (Aug 16, 2007)
29-Jun   CHATTANOOGA AP, TN                 106°F   106°F (Jul 28, 1952)
29-Jun   COLUMBUS METO AP., GA              105°F   104°F (Aug 10, 2007)
29-Jun   LONDON FAA AP, KY                  105°F   102°F (Aug 16, 2007)
29-Jun   GADSDEN, AL                        105°F   105°F (Aug 16, 1954)
29-Jun   GRNVL SPART INTL AP, SC            105°F   105°F (Aug 10, 2007)
29-Jun   QUANTICO MCAS, VA                  105°F   105°F (Sep 7, 1954)
29-Jun   RALEIGH AP, NC                     105°F   105°F (Aug 21, 2007)
29-Jun   JACKSON WSO, KY                    104°F   101°F (Aug 18, 1988)
29-Jun   CARLYLE RSVR, IL                   104°F   104°F (Aug 16, 2007)
29-Jun   CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC           104°F   104°F (Aug 10, 2007)
29-Jun   SPARTA WASTEWATER PLANT, TN        104°F   104°F (Jul 17, 1980)
29-Jun   ATLANTA PEACHTREE AP, GA           103°F   102°F (Aug 22, 2007)
29-Jun   TIPTON 5 SW, IN                    103°F   98°F (Jul 22, 2011)
29-Jun   BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP, IN       103°F   103°F (1 day prior)
29-Jun   HUNTINGTON TRI ST AP, WV           103°F   103°F (Aug 16, 2007)
29-Jun   WARSAW, IN                         103°F   103°F (Jul 14, 1976)
29-Jun   CROSSVILLE AP, TN                  102°F   101°F (Jul 16, 1980)
29-Jun   BRISTOL AP, TN                     102°F   102°F (Jul 29, 1952)
29-Jun   PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY AP, PA        99°F    99°F (Aug 27, 1948)
29-Jun   BLUEFIELD MERCER CO AP, WV         97°F    96°F (Jul 16, 1988)
29-Jun   BECKLEY RALEIGH COUNTY AP, WV      96°F    96°F (Aug 17, 1988)
30-Jun   JOHNSTON 4 SW, SC                  113°F   110°F (Aug 11, 2007)
30-Jun   REIDSVILLE 2 NW, NC                110°F   103°F (Aug 19, 1988)
30-Jun   SIKESTON PWR STN, MO               110°F   107°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   WOODBURY 1 WNW, TN                 110°F   109°F (Aug 17, 2007)
30-Jun   KINGSTON SPRINGS, TN               109°F   108°F (Aug 16, 2007)
30-Jun   SANDHILL RSCH ELGIN, SC            109°F   106°F (Aug 8, 2007)
30-Jun   COLUMBIA 3 WNW, TN                 109°F   109°F (Jul 28, 1952)
30-Jun   COLUMBIA METRO AP, SC              109°F   109°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   SALUDA, SC                         109°F   109°F (Jul 14, 1980)
30-Jun   CHEATHAM   , TN                    108°F   106°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   SPARTA WASTEWATER PLANT, TN        108°F   104°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   MACON MIDDLE GA AP, GA             108°F   108°F (Jul 13, 1980)
30-Jun   MAMMOTH CAVE, KY                   108°F   108°F (Jul 27, 1952)
30-Jun   BARREN RIVER LAKE, KY              107°F   106°F (Jul 10, 1988)
30-Jun   CHATTANOOGA AP, TN                 107°F   106°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   MARTIN U OF T BRANCH E, TN         107°F   106°F (Aug 18, 2007)
30-Jun   ROME WSO AP, GA                    107°F   106°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   MUSCLE SHOALS AP, AL               107°F   107°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   SANDERSVILLE, GA                   107°F   107°F (Jul 22, 1986)
30-Jun   SELMER, TN                         107°F   107°F (Aug 16, 2007)
30-Jun   ATLANTA HARTSFIELD AP, GA          106°F   105°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   CELINA, TN                         106°F   105°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   COLUMBUS METO AP., GA              106°F   105°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   PORTLAND SEWAGE PLT, TN            106°F   105°F (Aug 17, 2007)
30-Jun   PULASKI WWTP, TN                   106°F   105°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC                 106°F   104°F (Aug 10, 2007)
30-Jun   SMITHLAND   , IL                   106°F   104°F (Aug 17, 2007)
30-Jun   ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               106°F   105°F (Jul 30, 1999)
30-Jun   BARBOURVILLE, KY                   106°F   106°F (Sep 5, 1954)
30-Jun   CAIRO 3N, IL                       106°F   106°F (Aug 9, 1930)
30-Jun   FARMVILLE 2 N, VA                  106°F   106°F (Sep 1, 1932)
30-Jun   RUSSELLVILLE NO 2, AL              106°F   106°F (Aug 16, 2007)
30-Jun   SPRINGFIELD EXP STN, TN            106°F   106°F (Aug 17, 2007)
30-Jun   STONY CREEK 2 N, VA                106°F   106°F (Aug 23, 1983)
30-Jun   ATLANTA PEACHTREE AP, GA           105°F   103°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   KNOXVILLE AP, TN                   105°F   104°F (Jul 12, 1930)
30-Jun   LOGAN, WV                          105°F   104°F (Jul 15, 1954)
30-Jun   MONTICELLO 3 NE, KY                105°F   103°F (Aug 18, 1988)
30-Jun   PHILPOTT DAM 2, VA                 105°F   102°F (Aug 22, 1983)
30-Jun   SMITHVILLE 2 SE, TN                105°F   104°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   TAPOCO, NC                         105°F   103°F (Jun 17, 1944)
30-Jun   BROOKPORT DAM 52, IL               105°F   105°F (Jul 30, 1999)
30-Jun   CLEVELAND FLTR PLT, TN             105°F   105°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   RALEIGH AP, NC                     105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   AMELIA COURTHOUSE 1, VA            104°F   102°F (Jul 6, 1999)
30-Jun   CARLYLE RSVR, IL                   104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC           104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   DALLAS 7 NE, GA                    104°F   104°F (Aug 23, 2007)
30-Jun   DRESDEN, TN                        104°F   104°F (Aug 17, 2007)
30-Jun   WEST PELZER 2 W, SC                104°F   104°F (Jul 21, 1986)
30-Jun   BAXTER, KY                         103°F   101°F (Aug 22, 1983)
30-Jun   BRISTOL AP, TN                     103°F   102°F (1 day prior)
30-Jun   MONTEREY, TN                       103°F   100°F (Jul 29, 1952)
30-Jun   TAZEWELL, TN                       103°F   102°F (Aug 22, 1983)
30-Jun   WATERVILLE 2, NC                   103°F   101°F (Jul 10, 1936)
30-Jun   CAMP PICKETT, VA                   103°F   103°F (Jul 27, 2010)
30-Jun   JAMESTOWN WWTP, KY                 103°F   103°F (Jul 17, 1980)
30-Jun   LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY         103°F   103°F (Jul 30, 1999)
30-Jun   HELEN, GA                          102°F   100°F (Jul 20, 1986)
30-Jun   W KERR SCOTT RSVR, NC              102°F   102°F (Aug 19, 1988)
30-Jun   ERWIN 1 W, TN                      101°F   101°F (Aug 21, 1983)
30-Jun   PULASKI 2 E, VA                    99°F    99°F (Jul 18, 1986)
30-Jun   PISGAH FOREST 3 NE, NC             98°F    98°F (Jun 23, 1964)
30-Jun   WYTHEVILLE 1 S, VA                 98°F    98°F (Aug 14, 2010)
30-Jun   BUCKEYE, WV                        97°F    97°F (Jul 23, 2011)
30-Jun   COOPERS ROCK SF, WV                92°F    92°F (Jul 17, 1988)
1-Jul    MILLEDGEVILLE, GA                  110°F   110°F (Aug 20, 1925)
1-Jul    SANTUCK, SC                        110°F   110°F (Sep 4, 1925)
1-Jul    CELINA, TN                         109°F   106°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    SANDERSVILLE, GA                   109°F   107°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    SILOAM 3N, GA                      109°F   107°F (Aug 21, 1983)
1-Jul    SALUDA, SC                         109°F   109°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    BARREN RIVER LAKE, KY              108°F   107°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    ROME WSO AP, GA                    108°F   107°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    CARTERSVILLE, GA                   108°F   108°F (Aug 27, 1954)
1-Jul    MACON MIDDLE GA AP, GA             108°F   108°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    GRNVL SPART INTL AP, SC            107°F   105°F (2 days prior)
1-Jul    CHATTANOOGA AP, TN                 107°F   107°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    LAURINBURG, NC                     107°F   107°F (Aug 9, 2007)
1-Jul    TAPOCO, NC                         106°F   105°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    MC MINNVILLE, TN                   106°F   106°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    ALLATOONA DAM 2, GA                105°F   104°F (Jul 9, 1977)
1-Jul    KNOXVILLE EXP STN, TN              105°F   102°F (Aug 17, 2007)
1-Jul    ATLANTA PEACHTREE AP, GA           105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    CLEVELAND FLTR PLT, TN             105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    GADSDEN, AL                        105°F   105°F (2 days prior)
1-Jul    KNOXVILLE AP, TN                   105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    GREENEVILLE EXP STN, TN            104°F   103°F (Jul 29, 1952)
1-Jul    CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC           104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    DALLAS 7 NE, GA                    104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    CARROLLTON, GA                     103°F   103°F (Jul 17, 1980)
1-Jul    JAMESTOWN WWTP, KY                 103°F   103°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY         103°F   103°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    TAZEWELL, TN                       103°F   103°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    ERWIN 1 W, TN                      102°F   101°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    HELEN, GA                          102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
1-Jul    MURPHY, NC                         100°F   99°F (Aug 23, 2007)
1-Jul    PISGAH FOREST 3 NE, NC             98°F    98°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    LEWISBURG EXP STN, TN              112°F   110°F (Jul 29, 1930)
2-Jul    SILOAM 3N, GA                      110°F   109°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    WASHINGTON 2 ESE, GA               109°F   109°F (Jun 30, 1952)
2-Jul    BARREN RIVER LAKE, KY              108°F   108°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    CARTERSVILLE, GA                   108°F   108°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    ALLATOONA DAM 2, GA                106°F   105°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    ROCHESTER FERRY, KY                106°F   105°F (Aug 17, 2007)
2-Jul    WEST PELZER 2 W, SC                106°F   104°F (2 days prior)
2-Jul    WAYNE 2, WV                        105°F   105°F (Jul 18, 1986)
2-Jul    DALLAS 7 NE, GA                    104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    GREENEVILLE EXP STN, TN            104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    LA GRANGE 1N, GA                   104°F   104°F (Jul 25, 1952)
2-Jul    CARROLLTON, GA                     103°F   103°F (1 day prior)
2-Jul    OPELIKA, AL                        103°F   103°F (Aug 11, 2007)
2-Jul    MURPHY, NC                         100°F   100°F (1 day prior)
3-Jul    CARTERSVILLE, GA                   108°F   108°F (1 day prior)
3-Jul    LA GRANGE 1N, GA                   104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
3-Jul    CASTLE ROCK, CO                    100°F   99°F (Jul 6, 1973)
4-Jul    BATTLE CREEK 5NW, MI               102°F   101°F (Jun 28, 1971)
4-Jul    LONE ROCK TRI CO, WI               102°F   101°F (Jul 30, 1955)
4-Jul    KALAMAZOO BATTLE CK INTL AP, MI    102°F   102°F (Jul 6, 1988)
4-Jul    PONTIAC OAKLAND CO INTL AP, MI     100°F   99°F (6 days prior)
4-Jul    LANSING CAPITAL CY AP, MI          100°F   100°F (Aug 1, 1988)
5-Jul    CARBONDALE SOUTHERN IL AP, IL      107°F   107°F (6 days prior)
5-Jul    EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AP, IN         107°F   107°F (6 days prior)
5-Jul    MADISON DANE CO AP, WI             104°F   104°F (Jul 10, 1976)
5-Jul    KALAMAZOO BATTLE CK INTL AP, MI    103°F   102°F (1 day prior)
5-Jul    BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP, IN       103°F   103°F (6 days prior)
5-Jul    MILWAUKEE MITCHELL AP, WI          103°F   103°F (Jul 13, 1995)
5-Jul    OCONOMOWOC, WI                     102°F   101°F (Aug 17, 1988)
5-Jul    BATTLE CREEK 5NW, MI               102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
5-Jul    LONE ROCK TRI CO, WI               102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
5-Jul    HORICON, WI                        101°F   101°F (Jul 14, 1995)
5-Jul    BEAVER DAM, WI                     100°F   100°F (Aug 17, 1988)
5-Jul    BUCKEYE, WV                        98°F    97°F (5 days prior)
6-Jul    WOODBURY 1 WNW, TN                 110°F   110°F (6 days prior)
6-Jul    CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP, IL            107°F   107°F (8 days prior)
6-Jul    CARBONDALE SOUTHERN IL AP, IL      107°F   107°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    CARLYLE RSVR, IL                   105°F   104°F (6 days prior)
6-Jul    INDIANAPOLIS INTL AP, IN           105°F   104°F (8 days prior)
6-Jul    CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, IL         105°F   105°F (Jul 14, 1995)
6-Jul    BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP, IN       104°F   103°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    COVINGTON WSO, KY                  104°F   103°F (Jul 9, 1988)
6-Jul    GERALD R FORD INTL AP, MI          104°F   102°F (Jun 20, 1953)
6-Jul    KALAMAZOO BATTLE CK INTL AP, MI    104°F   103°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    NORMAL 4NE, IL                     104°F   103°F (Aug 17, 1988)
6-Jul    MONTELLO, WI                       104°F   104°F (Jul 14, 1995)
6-Jul    ROCKFORD AP, IL                    104°F   104°F (Aug 16, 1988)
6-Jul    SOUTH BOSTON, VA                   104°F   104°F (Aug 23, 1983)
6-Jul    BARABOO, WI                        103°F   102°F (Aug 17, 1988)
6-Jul    BATTLE CREEK 5NW, MI               103°F   102°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    LANSING CAPITAL CY AP, MI          103°F   100°F (2 days prior)
6-Jul    CHENOA, IL                         103°F   103°F (Aug 17, 1988)
6-Jul    LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY         103°F   103°F (5 days prior)
6-Jul    BEAVER DAM, WI                     102°F   100°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    HORICON, WI                        102°F   101°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    WHITEWATER, WI                     102°F   101°F (Aug 31, 1953)
6-Jul    DAYTON WSO AP, OH                  102°F   102°F (8 days prior)
6-Jul    LONE ROCK TRI CO, WI               102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
6-Jul    WEST CHICAGO DUPAGE AP, IL         100°F   100°F (Jul 24, 2005)
6-Jul    MUSKEGON CO AP, MI                 99°F    99°F (Aug 3, 1964)
6-Jul    STOCKTON 3 NNE, IL                 99°F    99°F (Jul 11, 1989)
7-Jul    CAIRO 3N, IL                       108°F   106°F (7 days prior)
7-Jul    CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP, IL            107°F   107°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    BLOOMINGTON MONROE CO AP, IN       106°F   104°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    QUANTICO MCAS, VA                  106°F   105°F (8 days prior)
7-Jul    LOUISVILLE INTL AP, KY             106°F   106°F (Jul 30, 1999)
7-Jul    ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               106°F   106°F (7 days prior)
7-Jul    LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY         105°F   103°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    NORMAL 4NE, IL                     105°F   104°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    ROCKFORD AP, IL                    105°F   104°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    INDIANAPOLIS INTL AP, IN           105°F   105°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA           105°F   105°F (Aug 17, 1997)
7-Jul    HUNTINGTON TRI ST AP, WV           104°F   103°F (8 days prior)
7-Jul    COVINGTON WSO, KY                  104°F   104°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    MOLINE WSO AP, IL                  104°F   104°F (Jun 25, 1988)
7-Jul    PATUXENT RIVER NAS, MD             104°F   104°F (Jul 25, 2010)
7-Jul    ARLINGTON UNIV FARM, WI            103°F   102°F (Aug 16, 1988)
7-Jul    PARKERSBURG FAA AP, WV             103°F   102°F (Jul 16, 1988)
7-Jul    STOUGHTON, WI                      103°F   103°F (Aug 2, 1988)
7-Jul    WARSAW, IN                         103°F   103°F (8 days prior)
7-Jul    FREEPORT WASTE WTP, IL             102°F   101°F (Aug 18, 1988)
7-Jul    BEAVER DAM, WI                     102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    DAYTON WSO AP, OH                  102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    WHITEWATER, WI                     102°F   102°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    HESPERIA 4 WNW, MI                 101°F   100°F (Aug 21, 1955)
7-Jul    AKRON CANTON WSO AP, OH            101°F   101°F (Jul 16, 1988)
7-Jul    PRESTON, MN                        101°F   101°F (Jul 14, 1995)
7-Jul    WILMINGTON AIRBORNE PARK, OH       101°F   101°F (Jul 14, 1954)
7-Jul    WEST CHICAGO DUPAGE AP, IL         100°F   100°F (1 day prior)
7-Jul    PAINTER 2W, VA                     99°F    99°F (Jul 27, 2005)
7-Jul    PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY AP, PA        99°F    99°F (8 days prior)
7-Jul    COOPERS ROCK SF, WV                93°F    92°F (7 days prior)
8-Jul    CHILLICOTHE 2S, MO                 110°F   109°F (Aug 29, 1984)
8-Jul    BREMO BLUFF, VA                    109°F   107°F (Aug 8, 2007)
8-Jul    NORMAL 4NE, IL                     107°F   105°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    WELDON SPRING NWS, MO              107°F   107°F (Aug 30, 1984)
8-Jul    QUANTICO MCAS, VA                  106°F   106°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               106°F   106°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    CARLYLE RSVR, IL                   105°F   105°F (2 days prior)
8-Jul    RALEIGH AP, NC                     105°F   105°F (8 days prior)
8-Jul    RATHBUN DAM, IA                    105°F   105°F (Jul 23, 1983)
8-Jul    SALEM, IL                          105°F   105°F (Aug 20, 1983)
8-Jul    FREEPORT WASTE WTP, IL             103°F   102°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    WAYNESBURG 1 E, PA                 102°F   102°F (Jul 17, 1988)
8-Jul    HANNIBAL LOCKS AND DAM, OH         101°F   100°F (Aug 15, 1988)
8-Jul    STEVENSVILLE 2SW, MD               101°F   101°F (Jul 21, 1934)
8-Jul    PAINTER 2W, VA                     100°F   99°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    PIKE ISLAND   , WV                 100°F   100°F (Jul 17, 1988)
8-Jul    WASHINGTON 3 NE, PA                100°F   100°F (Jul 17, 1988)
8-Jul    COOPERS ROCK SF, WV                96°F    93°F (1 day prior)
8-Jul    LAUREL MTN, PA                     95°F    93°F (Jul 17, 1988)
9-Jul    NOLIN RIVER LAKE, KY               110°F   110°F (8 days prior)
9-Jul    FARMVILLE 2 N, VA                  106°F   106°F (9 days prior)
9-Jul    MONTICELLO, VA                     100°F   100°F (Jul 7, 1999)
11-Jul   BEAVER DAM, AZ                     121°F   120°F (Jul 6, 2007)
11-Jul   CALIENTE, NV                       110°F   110°F (Jul 14, 1915)
12-Jul   EVANSTON BURNS FLD, WY             93°F    93°F (Jul 23, 2006)
13-Jul   SODA SPRINGS AP, ID                102°F   101°F (Jul 14, 2002)
17-Jul   BURLINGTON 2S, IA                  107°F   105°F (Aug 17, 1983)
17-Jul   FLINT FCWOS, MI                    101°F   101°F (Jul 14, 1995)
17-Jul   PONTIAC OAKLAND CO INTL AP, MI     100°F   100°F (13 days prior)
19-Jul   ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               106°F   106°F (11 days prior)
20-Jul   POPLAR BLUFF, MO                   113°F   112°F (Aug 9, 1930)
22-Jul   SPRINGVIEW, NE                     113°F   110°F (Jul 17, 2006)
23-Jul   OTTUMWA INDUSTRIAL AP, IA          106°F   105°F (Aug 18, 1983)
24-Jul   RATHBUN DAM, IA                    106°F   105°F (16 days prior)
24-Jul   MEMPHIS, MO                        106°F   106°F (Jul 19, 1954)
24-Jul   LE CLAIRE    14, IA                103°F   103°F (Aug 17, 1983)
25-Jul   ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               106°F   106°F (6 days prior)
25-Jul   GUTTENBERG    10, IA               103°F   103°F (Aug 28, 1948)
25-Jul   DUBUQUE WSO AP, IA                 101°F   101°F (Jul 31, 1988)
26-Jul   ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO               107°F   106°F (1 day prior)
26-Jul   CASCADE, IA                        103°F   103°F (Aug 1, 1988)
30-Jul   JOHN REDMOND LAKE, KS              110°F   109°F (Sep 3, 2000)
31-Jul   RALSTON, OK                        113°F   112°F (Jul 6, 1996)
31-Jul   DES ARC, AR                        109°F   109°F (Aug 1, 1986)
2-Aug    SEMINOLE, OK                       113°F   113°F (Jul 19, 1936)
2-Aug    WATONGA, OK                        112°F   111°F (Aug 6, 1964)
2-Aug    OKLAHOMA CITY WILL ROGERS AP, OK   112°F   112°F (1 day prior)
2-Aug    KEYSTONE DAM, OK                   110°F   110°F (Jul 31, 1986)
3-Aug    OKLAHOMA CITY WILL ROGERS AP, OK   113°F   112°F (1 day prior)
3-Aug    OOLOGAH DAM, OK                    109°F   109°F (Jul 23, 1974)
4-Aug    BURLINGTON 2S, IA                  110°F   107°F (18 days prior)
24-Aug   KANEOHE NAVY AIR STN, HI           96°F    91°F (Aug 27, 2006)
30-Aug   HILL CITY, SD                      101°F   101°F (Jul 30, 2006)
30-Aug   ORLANDO SANFORD AP, FL             100°F   100°F (Jun 14, 2010)
14-Sep   SAN DIEGO MONTGOMERY FLD, CA       107°F   107°F (Sep 27, 2010)
14-Sep   KANEOHE NAVY AIR STN, HI           98°F    96°F (21 days prior)
9-Oct    LIHUE WSO AP 1020.1, HI            91°F    90°F (Aug 30, 1996) 

Record Warm Year in Southeast

The National Weather Service's non-standard format and schedule for reporting climate summaries makes this a bit difficult to track in a systematic way, but several major NWS locations with long data histories in the Southeast observed record or near-record warm annual average temperatures in 2012. (Previous posts have covered annual records set in the Mid Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwest.)

Florida:

...TAMPA CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR 2012... 
...2ND WARMEST YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1890...
THE 2012 YEARLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 74.8 DEGREES RANKS AS THE 2ND 
WARMEST YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1890. THE WARMEST YEAR HAD AN 
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 75.3 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED IN 1990.

...FORT MYERS CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR 2012... 
...3RD WARMEST YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1902...
THE 2012 YEARLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 76.2 DEGREES RANKS AS THE 3RD 
WARMEST YEAR SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1902. THE WARMEST YEAR HAD AN 
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 76.6 DEGREES WHICH OCCURRED IN 1994. 

The year 2012 had an average temperature of 69.9 degrees, which was 2.1 degrees above normal. This ties with 1998 for the 2nd warmest year on record in Tallahassee, behind only 1949 which had an average temperature of 70.1 degrees. The coldest temperature of the year was 18 degrees on the morning of Janaury 4th. This tied the record low for the date. No other daily record low temperatures were recorded for the remainder of the calendar year. Freezing temperatures were observed on only 15 days this year. The last freeze of the 2011-2012 season occurred on Valentine's Day. This is about a month earlier than usual.

...PENSACOLA......WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD...
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR 2012 WAS 70.7 DEGREES WHICH BROKE THE
RECORD FOR THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD PREVIOUSLY SET IN 1974 OF 70.0
DEGREES. THIS WAS 2.8 DEGREES ABOVE THE NORMAL ANNUAL TEMPERATURE OF
67.9 DEGREES. 

Georgia:

2012 average temperatures were above normal for the year by 1 to 2 degrees (which was the 2nd warmest on record at Alma and St Simons Island across SE Georgia), these were set in motion by the well above-normal readings the first half of the year.

Alma, GA (AMG)                  68.5 F ( + 1.3 F ) 2nd Warmest
St Simons Island, GA (SSI)  70.0 F ( + 1.9 F ) 2nd Warmest 

Site	Avg. Temp. and Current Ranking	Normal	Dep. from Normal	Previous Records
Athens	64.1 (4th Warmest)	62.6	+1.5	#1: 65.8 in 1933
Atlanta	65.6 (Warmest)	62.6	+3.0	#2: 65.0 in 1990
Columbus	67.9 (Warmest)	65.7	+2.2	#2: 67.8 in 1998
Macon	66.0 (6th Warmest)	64.6	+1.4	#1: 67.0 in 1990

Virginia:

************RICHMOND***********
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE FOR 2012 WAS 61.1 F...RANKING AS THE
WARMEST ON RECORD. PRIOR TO THIS YEAR...THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD
HAD BEEN 1990 WHEN THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE WAS 61.0 F. BASED
ON THE PERIOD 1981-2010...THE NORMAL ANNUAL VALUE IS 58.9 F.
TEMPERATURE RECORDS AT RICHMOND DATE BACK TO 1897 FOR DAILY
TEMPERATURE DATA AND 1881 FOR AVERAGE TEMPERATURE.

************NORFOLK***********
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE FOR 2012 WAS 62.75 F...RANKING AS THE
WARMEST ON RECORD. PRIOR TO THIS YEAR...THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD
HAD BEEN 1990 WHEN THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE WAS 62.73 F. BASED
ON THE PERIOD 1981-2010...THE NORMAL ANNUAL VALUE IS 60.2 F.
TEMPERATURE RECORDS AT NORFOLK DATE BACK TO 1874. 

Record Warmest Year for Entire Northeast

As posted earlier, 2012 was the warmest year on record for many major cities in the Northeast. Preliminary data from the Northeast Regional Climate Center in the table below show that it was also the warmest on record for 8 of the 12 states in the region and for the region overall.

State	Annual 2012			Coolest		Warmest
	Temperature	Departure	Rank	Average	Year	Average	Year
Connecticut	52.5	3.0	118	44.9	1904	52.5	2012
Delaware	58.8	3.1	118	51.4	1904	58.8	2012
Maine	44.1	2.7	115	38.4	1904	45.6	1913
Maryland	56.9	2.2	117	50.6	1917	57.0	1998
Massachusetts	51.1	2.8	118	44.4	1904	51.1	2012
New Hampshire	47.2	3.0	118	39.5	1926	47.2	2012
New Jersey	55.8	2.6	118	48.6	1904	55.8	2012
New York	49.0	3.1	118	41.7	1904	49.0	2012
Pennsylvania	51.8	2.6	116	46.1	1917	52.0	1998
Rhode Island	53.4	2.9	118	45.2	1917	53.4	2012
Vermont	46.3	3.2	118	38.6	1904	46.3	2012
West Virginia	54.1	2.0	116	49.0	1917	54.7	1921
Northeast	50.2	2.7	118	44.0	1917	50.2	2012

All-Time Heat Record in Tasmania

An intense summer heatwave with temperatures in excess of 45°C in mainland Australia has spilled over to Tasmania, where Hobart has reported its all-time record hottest day in 132 years of climate data on January 4 (Australian time). Weather Channel Australia reports:

Hobart recorded it’s hottest day in 132 years of records just before 2pm today, with 41.3˚C. This broke the previous record of 40.8˚C recorded on January 4, 1976.

Overnight the temperature in Hobart remained above 25˚C, 13˚C above average and the warmest part of the state. The official low will be recorded as 23.6˚C from 9am yesterday, Hobart's highest January minimum on record.

The extreme heat is due to a northerly airstream from the mainland. The northerlies will strengthen today, causing severe to extreme fire dangers through eastern, central and northern Tasmania.

Record Warmest Year in Midwest

The National Weather Service has reported that 2012 was the record or near-record warmest year at many major climate locations across all of the Midwest. Most of these include periods of record dating back at least a century:

Illinois:
THE AVERAGE TEMEPRATURE FOR 2012 FOR CHICAGO WAS 54.5   
DEGREES...MAKING THIS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS   
RECORD WAS 54.4 DEGREES IN 1921.   
  
RECORDS FOR CHICAGO DATE BACK TO 1872.  

THE AVERAGE TEMEPRATURE FOR 2012 FOR ROCKFORD WAS 53.1   
DEGREES...MAKING THIS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS   
RECORD WAS 52.8 DEGREES IN 1931.   
  
RECORDS FOR ROCKFORD DATE BACK TO 1906.

2012 RANKED AS THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR BOTH PEORIA AND  
SPRINGFIELD.  AN UNUSUALLY WARM JANUARY THROUGH JULY PERIOD...INCLUDING 
UNPRECEDENTED MARCH  TEMPERATURES...CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERALL WARMTH THIS 
YEAR. THE TOP FIVE WARMEST YEARS ARE LISTED BELOW. RECORDS FOR PEORIA DATE  
BACK TO 1883...AND SPRINGFIELD DATE BACK TO 1879.     

PEORIA  
1) 1931 - 55.6 F  
2) 2012 - 55.4 F  
3) 1921 - 55.2 F  
4) 1938 - 54.2 F  
5) 1941 - 54.0 F  
  
SPRINGFIELD    
1) 1931 - 57.5 F  
2) 2012 - 57.3 F  
3) 1921 - 57.1 F  
4) 1938 - 57.0 F  
5) 1946 - 56.6 F 

Missouri:

2012 was the 2nd warmest and 10th driest year on record for Springfield. While overall average temperatures were the 2nd warmest on record...2012 did feature the warmest average high temperatures ever recorded...at 71 degrees. The previous record was 70.1 degrees...set in 2006.

The temperature never fell into the single digits in 2012...which is a rarity. In fact...through new years morning...it has been a record 690 days (and counting) since single digit temperatures were last observed in Springfield. The previous record was 406 days...ending on March 10 1998. Temperatures last fell into the single digits in Springfield on February 11 2011...when the low temperature was 5 degrees.

Persistently warm weather greeted much of the eastern three-quarters of the country in the year 2012, including the bi-state region. In fact, 2012 was the warmest calendar year on record at St. Louis, MO (KSTL) and Columbia, MO (KCOU), and 8th warmest ever at Quincy, IL (KUIN). The record warmth in 2012 was especially bolstered during meteorological spring (March - May) where the month of March at all three locations experienced record warmth. Summer was also well above normal, with all three sites in the top 10 warmest on record. Detailed lists of the top 10 warmest calendar years can be found below:

WARMEST CALENDAR YEARS   

St. Louis, Missouri
Period of record: 1874- Present

Top Ten Avg. Temperatures

1)  61.2 2012
2)  60.1 1921
3)  59.2 1991
4)  59.0 1990
5)  58.7 2011/1998/1938
8)  58.6 1954
9)  58.5 2006/1953/1931

Columbia, Missouri
Period of record: 1890- Present

Top Ten Avg. Temperatures

1)  59.4 2012
2)  58.3 1938
3)  58.2 1931
4)  58.0 1946
5)  57.6 1921
6)  57.5 1954
7)  57.3 1953/1941/1939
10) 57.1 1934

Indiana:

Warmth became the main weather story throughout the year across Central Indiana [Indianapolis]. 2012 set the record for warmest year since records began in 1871. Below is a table of warmest years on record:

Year  Average Temp.
2012  57.0
1921  56.5
1931  56.3
1998  56.0

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR SOUTH BEND DURING 2012 WAS 53.3 DEGREES   
FAHRENHEIT. THIS MAKES 2012 THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT SOUTH   
BEND...BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 53.0 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN   
1998. RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1893 AT SOUTH BEND.   
  
THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT SOUTH BEND WAS 63.2 DEGREES   
FAHRENHEIT FOR 2012. THIS SETS A NEW RECORD FOR WARMEST AVERAGE HIGH   
TEMPERATURE...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 62.3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN   
1946 AND 1931.  

THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FORT WAYNE WAS 64.5 DEGREES   
FAHRENHEIT FOR 2012. THIS SETS A NEW RECORD FOR WARMEST ANNUAL   
AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 62.9 DEGREES   
FAHRENHEIT IN 1998 AND 1953. RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1912 AT FORT   
WAYNE.   

Ohio:
THE YEAR 2012 FINISHED AS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR COLUMBUS
SINCE COMPLETE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RECORDS BEGAN THERE IN 1879.

                  TOP 10 WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD

    CINCINNATI                COLUMBUS                DAYTON
 1. 58.1 / 1881           1. 56.6 / 2012*         1. 56.2 / 1921
 2. 57.3 / 1882           2. 56.4 / 1998          2. 56.0 / 1931
 3. 57.2 / 1913           3. 55.5 / 1931          3. 55.5 / 1946
    57.2 / 1874           4. 55.4 / 1991          4. 55.3 / 2012*
 5. 57.1 / 2012*             55.4 / 1921          5. 55.2 / 1998
    57.1 / 1921           6. 55.3 / 1938          6. 55.1 / 1938
    57.1 / 1878           7. 55.0 / 2007          7. 54.7 / 1944
 8. 57.0 / 1880              55.0 / 1946             54.7 / 1939
 9. 56.9 / 1931           9. 54.9 / 1999          9. 54.6 / 1896
10. 56.8 / 1911              54.9 / 1939         10. 54.5 / 1922

   NORMAL: 54.1             NORMAL: 53.0            NORMAL: 52.1

THE YEAR 2012 WAS WARM AND RECORDS FOR ANNUAL WARMTH WERE SET OVER   
NORTHERN OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN AKRON-CANTON WAS 53.7 DEGREES. THIS MAKES   
2012 THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF   
53.5 DEGREES SET IN 1931.  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN CLEVELAND WAS 54 DEGREES. THIS MAKES 2012   
THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 53.5   
SET IN 1998.  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN ERIE PENNSYLVANIA WAS 53 DEGREES. THIS   
MAKES 2012 THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 53.1 SET   
IN 1998.  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN MANSFIELD WAS 52.9 DEGREES. THIS TIES   
2012 FOR THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. 1973 ALSO HAD AN AVERAGE   
TEMPERATURE OF 52.9 DEGREES. THE RECORD IS 53.4 SET IN 1921.  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN TOLEDO WAS 53 DEGREES. THIS MAKES 2012   
THE FOURTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 53.6 SET IN 1921.  
  
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN YOUNGSTOWN WAS 52.2 DEGREES. THIS MAKES   
2012 THE SIXTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 54.2 SET IN   
1931.  

Michigan:
A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 52.6 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
MUSKEGON MI DURING 2012.  
   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 50.9 SET IN 1998.  
  
A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 51.7 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
LANSING MI DURING 2012.  
   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 50.6 SET IN 1921.  

A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 52.9 DEGREES WAS SET AT   
GRAND RAPIDS MI DURING 2012.  
   
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 52.4 SET IN 1921.  

Sault Ste Marie, Houghton Lake, Alpena, Traverse City, Gaylord (click to enlarge):

Wisconsin:
..TIED FOR WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN GREEN BAY  
  
 RANK    AVG TEMP.        YEAR(S)  
-------------------------------------  
  1        49.4          *2012 & 1931  
  3        48.2           1921 & 1998  
  5        47.6           1987  
   
..2ND WARMEST YEAR IN WAUSAU  
  
 RANK    AVG TEMP.        YEAR(S)  
-------------------------------------  
  1        48.7           1998  
  2        47.9          *2012  
  3        47.7           1931  
  4        47.1           1987  
  5        46.4           1999  
   
..4TH WARMEST YEAR IN RHINELANDER  
  
 RANK    AVG TEMP.        YEAR(S)  
-------------------------------------  
  1        46.3           1998  
  2        45.1           1931  
  3        44.3           1999  
  4        44.2          *2012  
  5        43.9           1987  

Minnesota:
WITH AN ANNUAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 50.8 DEGREES...2012 TIED 1931   
FOR THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN THE TWIN CITIES. THAT TEMPERATURE   
WAS 4.6 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.   

2012 will be remembered as the warmest on record for Rochester. March crushed its previous warmest on record by over 6 degrees, setting 18 daily high temperature records. On the whole, 33 daily records were set or tied for warmth, with the no cold records. July baked the region and was the 4th warmest month on record for Rochester. Amazingly, 7 months in 2012 set top 10 records for warmth with 2/3rds of the days recording above normal temperatures.
Seasonal:
Warmest spring on record at 53.8 degrees.
2nd warmest summer on record at 72.4 degrees.
Yearly:
Warmest year on record with 50.2 degrees

The official climate locations of Duluth, MN and International Falls, MN will both finish the year as the 3rd warmest since records began. Below are the current rankings for warmest average annual temperature.

Duluth, MN             
1.  44.6 F in 1931
2.  44.5 F in 1887
3.  44.3 F in 2012
4.  43.4 F in 1998
5.  43.0 F in 2006
           
International Falls, MN
1.  42.4 F in 1987
2.  41.4 F in 1998
3.  40.6 F in 2012
4.  40.3 F in 1981
5.  40.3 F in 2006
6.  40.3 F in 1915

Iowa: 

* With an average temperature of 56.0 degrees, 2012 was the warmest year on record in Des Moines. This smashes the old record of 54.5 degrees set back in 1931.
* There were 42 daily records set this year, this ties the number of daily records in a year also set 1936. The next highest of any year is 35 set in 1991. These records include 2 for daily record snowfall, 4 for daily record precipitation, 16 for daily high minimum temperature and 20 for daily record high temperature.
* The 20 daily record high temperatures for 2012 is the most of any year on record. Two years have 19 daily record high temperatures – 1934 and 1936.
* There were 279 days without measurable snowfall starting on March 5th and extending through December 8th. This is the longest streak on record without measurable snowfall. The old record was 277 days set in 1889.
* There were 244 days that had above normal temperatures, 100 days of below normal temperatures with 22 days recording normal temperatures.
* There were 120 days this year that had a departure of 10 degrees or more above normal compared to 15 days of 10 degrees or more below normal. In other words, almost one-third of all days this year were 10 degrees or more above normal.
* There were 60 days this year that had a departure of 15 degrees or more above normal compared to 2 days of 15 degrees or more below normal.
* There were 21 days this year that had a departure of 20 degrees or more above normal compared to no days of 20 degrees or more below normal.
* There were twelve days this year with an average temperature of 25 degree or more above normal. Seven of these occurred in March and early April during the extraordinary warmth during that time.